Girl Gets Gift of Mobility
Suha Hussein Yas, a 15 year-old girl who suffers from a disease similar to polio, smiles with her family while trying out her new wheelchair, Dec. 7. She received the gift from Soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. (U.S. Army photo/1st Lt. Greg Highstrom)
DVIDS
Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
An Iraqi girl suffering from a disease limiting her ability to walk received the gift of mobility, Dec. 7, thanks to coalition forces.
Soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga., delivered a wheelchair to 15-year-old Suha Hussein Yas, who has a disease similar to polio.
The disease left Yas unable to walk since birth, said 1st Lt. Greg Highstrom, fire support officer, Company B.
The Soldiers first learned of Yas’ plight while setting up Patrol Base Hawkes. Wanting to build a good rapport with the local citizens, the Soldiers began to move into the community, said Highstrom, from Cedarbird, Wis.
Meeting Yas and seeing her need, the company pushed for assistance from their higher command at the battalion.
Eventually the battalion was able to get a wheelchair for Yas.
“It was one of the coolest things I’ve been a part of,†Highstrom said. “The smile on her face was pretty infecting. It just affected you.â€
The Soldiers plan to continue their positive relationship with the local residents, a partnership that has paid high dividends in terms of security in the area.
By interacting positively with the community, Soldiers are able to win their trust, while gaining more information that helps purge insurgents from the area.
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Suha Hussein Yas, a 15 year-old girl who suffers from a disease similar to polio, smiles with her family while trying out her new wheelchair, Dec. 7
